Science Education at Humboldt During the The Humboldt
State Teachers College Period (1921-1934)

In 1921 Humboldt State Normal School was renamed
Humboldt State Teachers College and Junior College (Humboldt STC),
Homer Arnold (who would become professor of Mathematics and Philosophy
and teach Civil Engineering) was hired, and the Administration
Building (Founder's Hall) was completed.

The initial catalogs (Circular of Information)
for Humboldt STC had no course descriptions for science courses
taught at Humboldt. Instead they had an excerpt of the UC Berkeley
catalog to show students what was expected and available there.
The 1925-26 Circular first describes a variety of science
courses apparently taught at Humboldt. The first two permanent
science faculty members, Horace Wheeler and Robert Poultney, were
also hired at this time. Humboldt was authorized to offer the
B.A. degree in 1927, which probably lead to Humboldt's first acquisition
of a significant body of scientific instrumentation. By 1932 HSTC
had reached an enrollment of 388, and was offering four A.B. degrees,
including one in Biology.

I have chosen to provide extracts from the
1927-28 Circular. The Humboldt State Teachers College Circular
of Information for College Year 1927-28 listed a Faculty of
23, which included the President, a Dean, the Principle for the
training school, an assistant librarian, a librarian/instructor
in "recreational reading", the registrar, and a secretary.
Of the fifteen primarily teaching faculty, only two were listed
as teaching science and mathematics: Horace Wheeler, and Robert
Poultney. Homer Arnold, who would be listed as a Professor of
Mathematics in the catalog beginning in 1933, was listed as professor
of Education from 1921-1932.

The biographical information on these three
individuals are taken from the Circular (pp 8 & 9).
The photographs are from the first yearbook for Humboldt, Cabrillo,
which was published for a single year, 1927.

B. S. Cornell University 1914; M. S., Utah Agricultural College,
1926; graduate work at the University of California. Instructor,
Rutgers College, New Jersey, 1914-17 and 1919-20; Head of the
Department of Biology and Nature Study at the Idaho Technical
Institute, Pocatello, Idaho, 1920-26. At Humboldt since 1925.

D. ALGEBRA.
Subject matter: Quadratic equations, exponents and radicals, practice
in the use of logarithms, and theory of equations. This course
is designed particularly for those who wish to extend somewhat
their knowledge of algebraic theory, and for those who desire
proficiency in the technique of algebraic manipulation for the
successful (subsequent) pursuit of coordinate geometry, statistics,
or theory of investment. Prerequisite: One year of high school
algebra.

Two units, two one-hour periods per week.

MATHEMATICS 3 and 4. Introductory note:
A knowledge of calculus (and its prerequisites) enables the student
to solve problems concerning variable quantities; precisely as
a knowledge of arithmetic or algebra enables him to solve questions
concerning constant quantities. Students intending to take up
scientific courses should note that calculus is necessary for
the solution of many problems which arise in physics and engineering.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY 31
Subject matter: A review of algebra and trigonometry and an introduction
to Coordinate geometry. Prerequisite: High school algebra and
trigonometry.

1. ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE
A study of general agricultural problems which students will meet
in teaching in rural communities.

Three units, three one-hour periods per week.

Biology.

BIOLOGY 1A.
Lecture and laboratory courses designed to give to the student
the fundamental principles of biology. Study is made of protoplasm,
the living substance; the cell, the unit of biological structure,
the one-celled organism; the many-celled plants and animals; the
manufacture and utilization of food; growth; waste, elimination
and death of organism.

Three units, two one-hour and one two-hour
periods per week.

BIOLOGY 1B.
This course is a continuation of Biology 1A. It is a lecture and
1 laboratory course including a study of growth and reproduction
in plants and animals, the physical basis of heredity, the laws
of heredity, the evidences and theories of organic evolution,
man's place in nature and biology and human progress.

Three units, two one-hour and one two-hour
periods per week.

101. GENETICS.
Lectures and discussions on the laws of heredity and their relation
to the improvement of plants and animals and the human race. Special
reference will be made to the inheritance of mental traits in
man.

Three units, three one-hour periods per week.

102. GENERAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Study of the origin and antiquity of man; man as an animal, races
And race problems and earliest culture and growth of language
and religion

Three units, three one-hour periods per week.

Chemistry.

1A. GENERAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY.
Subject matter: The theories and principles underlying modern
chemistry. Prerequisite: High school chemistry.

Five units, three one-hour lecture periods
and two three-hour laboratory periods per week.

1B. GENERAL lNORGANIC CHEMISTRY (continued).

Subject matter: The qualitative properties
of the several elements and their compounds; the chemistry of
various industrial processes and commercial preparations. Prerequisite:
Chemistry 1A.

Five units, three one-hour lecture periods
and two three-hour laboratory periods per week.

HUMBOLDT STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE

73

*

(courses in geography and nature
study to be offered in the 1927 summer session were listed here)

*

Physics.

1A. Mechanics, Heat, and the Properties
of Matter. Prerequisite: high school trigonometry required; high
school chemistry or physics is recommended.

Five units, three one-hour lectures, two three-hour
laboratory (or office) periods per week.